Notices over Christmas:
The notices next weekend will cover two weeks. The following one will be the weekend of 4th January. Please make sure Caroline has any items that need to be included.
This weekend’s Bible readings:
Isaiah 35:1-10 (p 719) Matthew 11:2-11 (p 976)
Rev Tim Weeks should have been with us this weekend, but sadly he is in hospital. Please pray for a swift recovery for him. As we didn’t have a 10.30 communion service in St Mary’s in November, we have the Bishop of Hertford’s permission for Caroline to conduct a service with Communion by Extension.
Sunday evening:
On Sunday evening we will hold our candlelit carol service in All Saints at 6.00 pm. The Little Munden School Choir will be joining us, singing on their own as well as with the benefice choir. All are welcome to this lovely service of music and readings.
New Seasons:
There will be no New Seasons meeting this month. It will resume in the New Year on 15th January in Puckeridge Community Centre at 2pm. Contact Heather on 07909 065550 for more information.
Sunday lunch at The Star:
Our next Sunday lunch will be on Sunday 28th December at The Star in Standon at 12.15pm. Please contact Heather if you would like a place 07909 065550.
New organ for St Catherine’s:
The new St Catherine’s organ has been delivered and installed! It will be in use for our Christmas services – come and hear it on Christmas Eve. We’ll also be worshipping in Sacombe on 28th December, as is usual on the Sunday after Christmas.
Advent Appeal:
This year’s Advent appeal is for the Buntingford and Villages Food Hub and Community Support. Our cash collections at all three carol services will go to the appeal. If you would like to give at other times, there are appeal envelopes in our churches, or you can give directly using the usual church bank details. Please mark your online donation ‘appeal’. Thank you.
FOSM Christmas Fair:
Thank you to all who supported the Christmas Fair last weekend. With gift aid on the donations, just over £1,000 was raised.
Christmas Crackers:
And thank you to all who supported the concert on Thursday. £830 was raised for Isabel Hospice, and FOSM raised £500 selling mulled wine in the interval.
Services for the next few weeks:
Midweek services each week:
Tuesdays, 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) & Bible study, St Catherine’s
Wednesdays, 9.30 am Morning worship & Bible study, St Mary’s
Please note that there will be no midweek services on 23rd and 24th, nor on 30th and 31st
Sunday and Christmas services:
14th December 10.30 am Public worship with Communion by Extension, St Mary’s
14th December 6.00 pm Carol service, All Saints
21st December 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10.30 am Holy Communion (said service), All Saints
6.00 pm Nine lessons and carols, St Mary’s
24th December 3.00 pm Crib service, All Saints
5.00 pm Crib service, St Mary’s
7.30 pm Candlelit carol service, St Catherine’s
11.30 pm Midnight communion, St Mary’s
25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion, All Saints
25th December 10.30 am Christmas Day service, St Mary’s
28th December 10.30 am Morning Worship, St Catherine’s
4th January 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10.30 am Morning worship, All Saints
11th January 10.30 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
Please check the list for service times and places in the next few weeks. There are some variations to our usual pattern, to accommodate our Christmas services.
Dates & meetings coming up:
17th December, 6.30 pm Carols round the tree followed by refreshments in church, Standon High Street
18th December, 9.00 am Roger de Clare Christmas service, St Mary’s
19th December, 1.15 pm Little Munden School Christmas service, All Saints
30th December, 1.30 pm Funeral of Alan Beaton, St Mary’s